The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh ooh ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
And the days go by
Like a strand in the wind
In the web that is my own
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby
Nothin' else mattered
He was no more than a baby then
Well he seemed broken hearted
Something within him
But the moment that I first laid
Eyes on him all alone
On the edge of seventeen
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Said ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well, I went today maybe I will go again
Tomorrow
Yeah, yeah
Well the music there, well it was hauntingly
Familiar
When I see you doing
What I tried to do for me
With the words from a poet
And a voice from a choir
And a melody nothing else mattered
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Said ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
The clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes colors
But the sea
Does not change
So with the slow, graceful flow
Of age
I went forth with an age old
Desire to please
On the edge of seventeen
Ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well then suddenly
There was no one left standing
In the hall yeah, yeah
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Well, I went searchin' for an answer
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird singing
Come away, come away
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well I hear you in the morning
And I hear you
At nightfall
Sometimes to be near you
Is to be unable to feel you
My love
I'm a few years older than you, my love
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh ooh ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
And the days go by
Like a strand in the wind
In the web that is my own
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby
Nothin' else mattered
He was no more than a baby then
Well he seemed broken hearted
Something within him
But the moment that I first laid
Eyes on him all alone
On the edge of seventeen
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Said ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well, I went today maybe I will go again
Tomorrow
Yeah, yeah
Well the music there, well it was hauntingly
Familiar
When I see you doing
What I tried to do for me
With the words from a poet
And a voice from a choir
And a melody nothing else mattered
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Said ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
The clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes colors
But the sea
Does not change
So with the slow, graceful flow
Of age
I went forth with an age old
Desire to please
On the edge of seventeen
Ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well then suddenly
There was no one left standing
In the hall yeah, yeah
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Well, I went searchin' for an answer
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird singing
Come away, come away
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well I hear you in the morning
And I hear you
At nightfall
Sometimes to be near you
Is to be unable to feel you
My love
I'm a few years older than you, my love
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Lyrics submitted by joeys girl
Edge of Seventeen Lyrics as written by Stevie Nicks
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Incredible song. Get's me everytime. Good singing along full blast in the car down a long highway song.